Cops: Boat thief nabbed when he runs out of gas in middle of Hudson River

Monday

Sep 2, 2013 at 2:00 AMSep 2, 2013 at 10:31 AM

UPPER NYACK — A Queens man who plundered a 27-foot boat from a Newburgh marina last Tuesday was caught when the vessel sputtered out of gas in the middle of the Hudson River, according to the Rockland County Sheriff's Office.

James Nani

UPPER NYACK — A Queens man who plundered a 27-foot boat from a Newburgh marina last Tuesday was caught when the vessel sputtered out of gas in the middle of the Hudson River, according to the Rockland County Sheriff's Office.

At about 4:15 p.m., Sea Tow, a company that helps distressed boats, found John Knaggs, 27, in the cabin of a 1995 Wellcraft cruiser, adrift in the shipping lane of the Hudson River, police said.

Knaggs told Sea Tow workers he couldn't afford the tow but he would be fine, police said. Workers, thinking the situation was suspicious, then called the Rockland Sheriff's Department, according to police.

When interviewed, Knaggs admitted he stole the boat from the Gull Harbor Marina in the City of Newburgh. He was also found with methamphetamine, police said.

Knaggs was arrested and charged with third-degree grand larceny, third-degree possession of stolen property, and fourth-degree criminal possession of drugs; all felonies.

Rob Faiella, the owner of the boat, said the vessel was trashed. He said all three rescue flares were set off in the boat, leaving scorch marks; duct tape was inexplicably wrapped around the seat cushions, and vinyl cleaner had been poured into the carburetor. The anchor had also been cut off and the canvas awning thrown in the river.

The alleged sea caper isn't Knaggs' first run-in with the law, either.

There were also two active warrants on him from the Town of Newburgh, police said. And in February, Knaggs was chased down and nabbed by a fast-footed U.S. Marine after Knaggs snatched two sacks of money from the Neptune Diner on Route 17K, police said at the time.